Rockets-Nuggets Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Jan 29 2013 3:43PM

Scoring at a high rate is nothing new for the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets, but their production during their respective winning streaks has jumped even higher.

Both teams have also improved on the defensive end.

Denver goes for a fifth straight victory overall and sixth in a row in this series Wednesday night when they host the Rockets, who will try to remain undefeated since last week's home loss to the Nuggets.

Fourth in the NBA with 103.5 points per game - Houston ranks second with 104.9 - Denver is averaging 112.3 since its last defeat.

The Nuggets (28-18) have also forced an average of 21.2 turnovers during their four-game run, while holding their last three opponents to 96.3 points per game after allowing at least 105 in seven of the previous eight contests.

That strong defensive stretch started last Wednesday when Denver forced 23 turnovers in a 105-95 win at Houston (25-22).

Nuggets guard Andre Iguodala came up big on both ends Monday, making a defensive stop in the closing seconds then hitting a winning free throw with 0.7 seconds left in a 102-101 victory over Indiana.

Denver improved to 18-3 at home and 11-3 in January.

"We're having a good month," point guard Ty Lawson told the Nuggets' official website. "I feel like if we would have lost this game (after leading by 14 in the fourth quarter), we would have taken it hard. I'm glad we got the win - momentum is going to be good for us."

The Rockets also have momentum as they come to Denver. Since losing its fourth straight at home to the Nuggets last week, Houston has won three in a row and averaged 122.0 points in the last two.

It has a 73-18 edge in fast-break points during those three games after outscoring Utah 26-2 in that category in a 125-80 road victory Monday.

"That's how we play," guard James Harden said. "If you watch Rockets basketball, you know we get out in transition and we get some stops. We just try to do a good job of that for 48 minutes."

The Rockets also committed a season-low six turnovers - 10.4 less that their league-worst average.

That performance was Houston's third straight strong effort at the defensive end. The Rockets are giving up 102.4 points a contest on the season, but they've allowed 89.3 along with 41.1 percent shooting in this stretch.

Iguodala and the Nuggets have done a nice job on Harden, limiting the first-time All-Star to 38 total points in two meetings this season. Harden, who averages 26.0, had 15 and shot 5 of 15 in a 93-87 loss to Denver on Nov. 7.

Danilo Gallinari had 27 points Monday as Denver won its seventh straight game in which he's led the team in scoring.

The Nuggets might need another strong game from Gallinari, as well as the rest of their frontcourt, if JaVale McGee and Wilson Chandler miss a second straight contest. McGee had 14 points last Wednesday while Chandler scored a season-best 20.

Denver won 101-86 on April 15 to avoid a third consecutive home loss to Houston. The Nuggets haven't won six straight in this series since taking the first seven matchups Jan. 7, 1977-Oct. 29, 1978.

Gallinari's 27 lead Nuggets past Rockets, 118-110

Posted Jan 31 2013 1:25AM

DENVER (AP) The Denver Nuggets knew January could make or break their season.

Thanks to a big fourth quarter, they head into February with momentum and confidence.

Danilo Gallinari scored a game-high 27 points, Kenneth Faried had 19 points and nine rebounds and the Nuggets beat the Houston Rockets 118-110 Wednesday night.

It was Denver's fifth straight win and, just as important, it capped a month in which it went 12-3. After spending most of the first two months on the road they took advantage of 12 home games to start 2013 off right.

"We knew from the beginning of the season January was the most important month of the season," said Gallinari, who tied a career high with four blocked shots. "I thought we responded well."

Denver played 22 of its first 32 away from home, including 17 of the first 23. It was the first time in 28 years a team had that heavy a road schedule to start the season and on Dec. 31 the Nuggets were 17-15.

Now they're 29-18 and flying high.

"We took advantage of the schedule," guard Andre Miller said. "We did our job early maintaining .500 heading into the home stretch in January."

Ty Lawson scored 16 points and Andre Iguodala had 15 points for the Nuggets, who beat Houston for the third time this season and twice in the last week.

Jeremy Lin scored 22 points to lead the Rockets and James Harden and Chandler Parsons added 21 each. The Rockets had won three straight, including a 45-point win at Utah on Monday.

They couldn't maintain the momentum when the Nuggets turned up their defense.

"Defensively, the first 10, 11 minutes of the fourth quarter was probably the reason we won it easy," Denver coach George Karl said. "Our offensive was good but we got confidence in the game when we finally kept them out of the paint, kept them off the boards."

Marcus Morris' 3-pointer with a minute left in the third gave Houston an 85-77 lead but Denver closed out the period strong to trail just 86-83 heading into the final 12 minutes.

Two 3-pointers by Gallinari and some missed shots by the Rockets sparked a 24-3 Nuggets run that gave them a 101-88 lead with 6:54 left. The Rockets missed six straight shots and committed six turnovers, which helped Denver take the big lead.

Houston had 22 turnovers overall.

"Our turnovers caught up to us. Our defensive deficiencies caught up to us," Lin said. "They hit tough shots. They had eight 3-pointers the whole game and they probably had four or five in the fourth quarter. They just got hot and we were trying to play uphill and come back from there on out."

Houston clawed back as a jumper by Lin and two 3s by Carlos Delfino trimmed the lead to 101-95 with 4:55 left. Gallinari answered with a corner 3three to make it a nine-point margin.

"Couple of calls and they got to the foul line. They got the momentum from there," Harden said. "It's tough. They are so athletic. They get out in transition. Their point guard pushed the ball, they got so many guys who can score. Gallinari hit a couple of big 3s, too."

The Rockets went on a 7-2 run to pull to 106-102 with 2:55 left, but consecutive buckets by Andre Miller and Lawson made it an eight-point game and Denver closed it out.

"Gallinari made a couple of tough 3s and then we decided we were going to do it on our own," Houston coach Kevin McHale said. "It snowballed a little bit and they got ahead. We had to fight back. You never want to lose. You especially don't want to lose when it's self-inflicted, and we did."

The Rockets led by as eight in the third quarter. Toney Douglas helped build the lead with a steal and layup on two straight Denver possessions to help Houston build the lead.

The score was close throughout the first half with neither team leading by more than four. Harden led the way for the Rockets with 13 and Iguodala had 12 for the Nuggets.

Both teams got to the line in first two quarters, shooting a combined 38 free throws.

NOTES: The 12 wins tied for the most ever in January for Denver. It was last done a year ago. ... Faried was named to the roster for the Rising Stars Challenge at All Star Weekend in Houston. Faried is averaging 11.8 points and 9.7 rebounds in 46 starts this season ... The Rockets have averaged 20.7 turnovers in the first three games against Denver. Harden committed 19 of their 62 turnovers. ... The Nuggets reassigned G Julyan Stone to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Developmental League.

Notebook: Nuggets 118, Rockets 110

Michael Kelly, for NBA.com
Posted Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:11 AM - Updated Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:11 AM

THE FACTS: Danilo Gallinari scored 27 points, Kenneth Faried added 19 points and nine rebounds and the Denver Nuggets used a big run to start the fourth quarter to beat the Houston Rockets 118-110 on Wednesday night.

Ty Lawson scored 16 points and Andre Iguodala had 15 for the Nuggets, who have won five straight. They finished January with a 12-3 record to move 11 games above .500.

Jeremy Lin scored 13 of his team-high 22 points in the fourth quarter and James Harden and Chandler Parsons had 21 each for the Rockets, who had their three-game winning streak stopped.

Omer Asik had 10 points and 18 rebounds for Houston, which had six players score in double figures.

Denver has beaten Houston in all three meetings this season and four in a row dating back to last season.

QUOTABLE: "It was a great month, we needed a special month and I think we got it. It puts us in position to hopefully have a great season."
-- Nuggets coach George Karl

THE STAT: Turnovers were a problem again for the Rockets. After averaging 20 in the first two meetings they had 22 more Wednesday.

TURNING POINT: The end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth. The Nuggets were down 85-77 with a minute left in the third when they started their push. They went on a 24-3 run through the first 5:06 of the fourth to go up 101-88. Houston missed six consecutive shots and committed six turnovers as Denver took control.

The Rockets cut the lead to six a few minutes later but another Gallinari 3-pointer pushed the advantage to nine.

QUOTABLE II: "Gallinari made a couple of tough threes and then we decided we were going to do it on our own. It snowballed a little bit and they got ahead. You never want to lose. You especially don't want to lose when it's self-inflicted, and we did."
-- Houston coach Kevin McHale

HOT: Gallinari got hot for the Nuggets when they took control. He hit two 3-pointers and scored nine points in the first three minutes of the fourth to help Denver grab control.

QUOTABLE III: "They had eight three pointers the whole game and they probably had four or five in the fourth quarter. They just got hot and we were trying to play uphill and come back from there on out."
-- Jeremy Lin

NOT: Iguodala had a forgettable offensive third quarter. He missed all five of his shots, four from 3-point range, and had two airballs.

GOOD MOVE: Houston's Toney Douglas was a pest at the end of the third quarter. The Houston guard stole the ball from Andre Miller and Timofey Mozgov on consecutive possessions and made layups both times to give the Rockets an 82-75.

BAD MOVE: Harden will be happy not to see the Nuggets for a while. He has committed 19 turnovers in three games against them, including six more Wednesday.

QUOTABLE IV: "They are one of the top-scoring teams in the league and they get a lot of points on the fast break, so they try to push the tempo. We were trying to be active and get our hands on a few passes and disrupt the pace they're trying to get to."
-- Andre Iguodala, on Denver's ability to force turnovers against Houston

NOTABLE: Denver reserve center JaVale McGee missed his second straight game with a sore left shin. An MRI performed Tuesday showed no stress fracture. He is day-to-day. ... The Nuggets' 12 wins were tied for the most in January. The last time they did it was last year. The franchise record for wins in any month is 13, set in March 1982. ... Gallinari had four blocks. He is averaging 2.66 blocks in three games against the Rockets.

UP NEXT: For the Rockets, Saturday vs. Charlotte, Tuesday vs. Golden State, Wednesday @ Miami. For the Nuggets, Friday vs. New Orleans, Tuesday vs. Milwaukee, Thursday, Feb. 7, vs. Chicago.

• Rockets: Jones, White
• Nuggets: Miller, Stone

• Rockets: McHale
• Nuggets: --

• Lead Changes: 17
• Times Tied: 18

• Arena: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
• Officials: #13 Monty McCutchen, #71 Rodney Mott, #58 Josh Tiven
• Attendance: 17399
• Duration: 2:22